A debit card provides an alternative method to cash when making purchases. Its functions are similar to issuance of cheques, as funds are directly withdrawn from the cardholder’s bank account. The card is swiped, or inserted into a terminal, and the transaction is authorized and processed after the cardholder verifies the purchase by entering a PIN code or signing a sales receipt.
A debit card differs from a credit card in the sense that it automatically deducts the balance from a checking or savings account, while credit cards allow consumers to spend money not yet available but promising to pay the issuer later.
